This review may contain spoilers
The Thai version of "The Count of Monte Cristo"
Hypnotic is one of the latest shows on Netflix and it very much appears to be a Thai version of the critically-acclaimed novel "The Count of Monte Cristo".
Central to the show is the glam and appeal of the Thai upper-class—they are generally regarded as an untouchable caste in Thai society due to their wealth, power, and influence. They have, after all, contributed greatly to Thailand's economy and success.
Sara/Kamon (the main protagonist) comes across as this charming, well-respected, and down-to earth psychologist, but little do people know that she's on a revenge mission: to tear apart the Lerthanakul family, a wealthy, powerful, and well-connected family respected and admired by many. Prior to the start of the show, they murdered Sara/Kamon's family, left Sara/Kamon for dead, and the main character will stop at nothing to break them apart.
Things are remarkably tense in the Lerthanakul household. The moment Sydney, Naree's youngest and mentally unstable daughter, gets suspended from school for bullying, the Lerthanakuls are forced to take her to therapy sessions with Sara/Kamon—the perfect infiltration opportunity for her to bring the Lerthanakul house down.
Naree (the main antagonist) is an explosive, vitriolic narcissist who takes pride in harming and hurting others. Her equally erratic husband, the son of a high-ranking police officer, despises her and her family and exhibits no social grace or manners. The feeling of hate towards the family is mutual—they know he's an irritating character with a disgusting personality, but they tolerate him because the matriarch of the family won't allow him and Naree to get divorced.
Naree is in constant denial and it can be clearly seen that she's someone who reasons with emotion, rather than reason—she refuses to admit she's a failed parent or that her daughter is unstable; instead she throws vivid, if not completely comedic, temper tantrums whenever she can't accept that she's in the wrong.
Woranan, the eldest sister, is the exact opposite of her younger sister and her husband, or so it seems, appears to be just as calm and collected as her—she just wants the family to be together and co-exist peacefully with one another. Her sweet, naïve, and simple nature allows people to manipulate her easily, but even the nicest and sweetest of people have their limits—Woranan doesn't hesitate to stand up for herself at times.
The matriarch of the family is just as bad as Naree—she is violent and regularly intimidates other members of the family, including the children. But unlike Naree, she uses her cold expressions to state exactly what she thinks and knows how to put people in their place.
A wonderfully crafted cat-and-mouse plot is the backbone of the show—right from the start Naree suspects that something about Sara/Kamon is not entirely right and her suspicions correctly grow and grow as the show progresses. With just 12 episodes, the plot sometimes feels fast-paced and rushed and it fools you into thinking that the plot is entirely predictable. Expect major twists and turns along the way, and expect major surprises.
Central to the show is the glam and appeal of the Thai upper-class—they are generally regarded as an untouchable caste in Thai society due to their wealth, power, and influence. They have, after all, contributed greatly to Thailand's economy and success.
Sara/Kamon (the main protagonist) comes across as this charming, well-respected, and down-to earth psychologist, but little do people know that she's on a revenge mission: to tear apart the Lerthanakul family, a wealthy, powerful, and well-connected family respected and admired by many. Prior to the start of the show, they murdered Sara/Kamon's family, left Sara/Kamon for dead, and the main character will stop at nothing to break them apart.
Things are remarkably tense in the Lerthanakul household. The moment Sydney, Naree's youngest and mentally unstable daughter, gets suspended from school for bullying, the Lerthanakuls are forced to take her to therapy sessions with Sara/Kamon—the perfect infiltration opportunity for her to bring the Lerthanakul house down.
Naree (the main antagonist) is an explosive, vitriolic narcissist who takes pride in harming and hurting others. Her equally erratic husband, the son of a high-ranking police officer, despises her and her family and exhibits no social grace or manners. The feeling of hate towards the family is mutual—they know he's an irritating character with a disgusting personality, but they tolerate him because the matriarch of the family won't allow him and Naree to get divorced.
Naree is in constant denial and it can be clearly seen that she's someone who reasons with emotion, rather than reason—she refuses to admit she's a failed parent or that her daughter is unstable; instead she throws vivid, if not completely comedic, temper tantrums whenever she can't accept that she's in the wrong.
Woranan, the eldest sister, is the exact opposite of her younger sister and her husband, or so it seems, appears to be just as calm and collected as her—she just wants the family to be together and co-exist peacefully with one another. Her sweet, naïve, and simple nature allows people to manipulate her easily, but even the nicest and sweetest of people have their limits—Woranan doesn't hesitate to stand up for herself at times.
The matriarch of the family is just as bad as Naree—she is violent and regularly intimidates other members of the family, including the children. But unlike Naree, she uses her cold expressions to state exactly what she thinks and knows how to put people in their place.
A wonderfully crafted cat-and-mouse plot is the backbone of the show—right from the start Naree suspects that something about Sara/Kamon is not entirely right and her suspicions correctly grow and grow as the show progresses. With just 12 episodes, the plot sometimes feels fast-paced and rushed and it fools you into thinking that the plot is entirely predictable. Expect major twists and turns along the way, and expect major surprises.
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